Gianaris Celebrates Long Island City HS Victory

State Senator Gianaris spoke in opposition to the Department of Education’s colocation plan at their hearing in October, 2013 at Long Island City H.S. State Senator Michael Gianaris, a proud graduate of Long Island City H.S. (LICHS), joined students, teachers and parents in celebrating the reversal of a Department of Education (DOE) colocation plan that would have negatively affected his alma mater. The plan would have co-located a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) school within LICHS, adding to the problem of classroom overcrowding and sapping resources from current students. This plan followed successive attempts by the DOE to close down the school altogether, plans against which Gianaris also fought tirelessly.

“It seems like every year the DOE comes up with a new plan to beat up Long Island City H.S., but every time we have rallied and fought back, and LICHS stays on its path of steady improvement,” said Gianaris. “This is a win for all of us in the community, but most of all for the students who only want the resources they deserve to receive a proper education. I hope the DOE will continue its efforts to put tech programs in Western Queens as our area continues to expand as an innovation hub, but in a way that helps our current students instead of making their classrooms more crowded.”